When Nechemya Weberman was convicted of child sexual abuse, the RCA, the rabbinical arm of the Orthodox Union (OU) came out with a statement the same day. This time around, in the aftermath of Yosef Kolko’s conviction, they are both being held hostage by the OU’s Senior Posek for OU Kosher, Rabbi Yisroel Belsky, who slandered the father of the victim, denounced him as a moser (snitch) and called on others to pressure him out of pursuing the case in the criminal justice system.

President of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), Rabbi Shmuel Goldin rgoldin@ahavathtorah.org

Chair of the Board of OU Kosher and President Emeritus, Mr. Harvey Blitz (I have no address for him so I would direct it through their Chief Communications Officer, Mayer Fertig fertig@ou.org. Indicate that you wish to have it forwarded to Mr. Blitz

When you send these emails, BCC to anyone else you know in the RCA or OU orbit that is, or ought to be, interested in protecting children from sexual abuse. But please be careful to respect email address privacy by putting these recipients into the BLIND CC (BCC) field.

To establish a record, please share copies of your letters and their replies on this site and as many other places as possible including websites, Twitter, email lists, local newspapers and bulletins and physical bulletin boards (Comments are moderated so it may be a few hours before you see your submitted comment appear- but that is still a hell of a lot quicker and transparent than the OU/RCA response).

Warning– you will probably not get a substantive email reply. Instead you will probably be given a number to call. Apparently folks are skittish about leaving a written record. If you are satisfied by all means thank them and publicize the reply. If you feel you were given evasive replies, please follow up by explaining your dissatisfaction and sharing it with all those to whom you originally wrote. Let’s make sure there is a feedback loop!

PS- If you have any energy left you might want to write to Rabbi Belsky’s other employer, Yeshiva Torah Vodaas where he is a Rosh Yeshiva. Address mail to Chaim Leshkowitz, President, Yeshiva Torah Vodaas – 425 E. 9th Street. Brooklyn, NY 11218-5209 (I suggest certified mail and send a copy to Rabbi Belsky at the same address.)

http://www.ou.org/general_article/ask_ou_toronto
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OU Kosher’s popular ASK OU Outreach program, which has brought the wisdom and experience of OU Kosher rabbis to congregations throughout the United States for the past six years, makes its first appearance in Canada as it presents a Special Community Kashrus Event in Toronto on Tuesday, June 11, from 7:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Congregation Shomrai Shabbos-Chevra Mishnayos, 583 Glengrove Avenue West.

The program will feature Orthodox Union meat, wine and fish experts, and will include a Q&A session following each presentation to allow for community input. Men and women are invited and admission is free.

The program is also sponsored by the COR Kashruth Council of Canada, with whom the OU works closely together on kashrus matters and is sponsored by the Harry H. Beren Foundation of New Jersey. Toronto native Rabbi Yosef Grossman, senior educational rabbinic coordinator and director of kosher education at OU Kosher, assembled the program and will serve as MC.

“Personally, this event means a lot to me because I’m bringing ASK OU to my home town where I grew up,” said Rabbi Grossman. “This is the first ASK OU outside of the borders of the United States. The OU is constantly being called upon to help kashrus agencies around the globe. In this past week alone I have been called on by Vaadei HaKashrus in South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, Germany and Gibraltar to help them with issues specific to their various communities. They all want to know what OU standards are so they can implement similar ones in their locals. Our trip to Toronto demonstrates the ever-expanding influence of OU Kosher on kashrus worldwide. The OU has found an excellent partner in the COR to spread its educational programs, as the COR is in the forefront of kashrus education throughout Canada.”

Following introductory remarks by Rabbi Tsvi Heber, COR director of Community Kosher; Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO and executive rabbinic coordinator of OU Kosher, will speak at 8:00 p.m. on “The Integrity of Kosher Meat After the Los Angeles Meat Scandal.” At 8:40, Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, senior rabbinic coordinator, will give a PowerPoint presentation on “The Production of Kosher Wine and Grape Juice,” a program he gave a number of times in different communities prior to Passover. The OU’s leading fish expert, the much-traveled Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Chaim Goldberg, will speak on “Current Kosher Fish Issues.”

The question and answer session will give priority to questions submitted by fax to 212-613-0621 or email grossman@ou.org. A free copy of the twentieth yearly volume of The Daf HaKashrus, the OU’s highly acclaimed newsletter for kashrus professionals, will be distributed.

For further information, contact Rabbi Grossman at 212-613-8212, 914-391-9470, or grossman@ou.org.
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